Winter on stock wheels
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Winter on Stock Wheels
I would consider the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. They are considered Ultra High Performance All Season tires and are basically the all season version of the PS/2 that comes stock on most IS-Fs. You will likely see better performance (handling, traction and steering response) from the Michelins than the Continentals in dry conditions. The DSWs are new technology and I'm not sure how they will do long term compared to the Michelins. Also, keep in mind that they too are considered Ultra High Performance All Season tires and not a true snow tire.
I would consider the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. They are considered Ultra High Performance All Season tires and are basically the all season version of the PS/2 that comes stock on most IS-Fs. You will likely see better performance (handling, traction and steering response) from the Michelins than the Continentals in dry conditions. The DSWs are new technology and I'm not sure how they will do long term compared to the Michelins. Also, keep in mind that they too are considered Ultra High Performance All Season tires and not a true snow tire.
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712 Posts
In Tire Rack Surveys, both the Continental DW and DWS come out first in their respective categories:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=UHPAS
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=MP
I have the DW tire on stock wheels in 245/35 and 285/30 sizes and luv them. However, I too must caution that the DWS is NOT a winter tire, but an All Season tire.
Lou
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=UHPAS
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=MP
I have the DW tire on stock wheels in 245/35 and 285/30 sizes and luv them. However, I too must caution that the DWS is NOT a winter tire, but an All Season tire.
Lou
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360 Posts
I have the Blizzak LM-25s. I think they have been discontinued and replaced by a newer model. They are the European touring style winter tires.
They do okay in the snow, but aren't spectacular. If we have more than an inch of snow, I can't make it up the driveway without shoveling a bit. Also, they don't seem to like really deep slush.
However, in dry/wet conditions they handle pretty well for winter tires. Certainly better than I remembered with older snow tires.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
They do okay in the snow, but aren't spectacular. If we have more than an inch of snow, I can't make it up the driveway without shoveling a bit. Also, they don't seem to like really deep slush.
However, in dry/wet conditions they handle pretty well for winter tires. Certainly better than I remembered with older snow tires.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
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439 Posts
My DWSs have served me well. They certainly are not a snow tire, but I have driven them without much trouble in several inches of snow a couple times. It all depends if you are able to feather the throttle or not. on flat ground in snow = a cake walk. The only difficulty is starting from a stop on a steep hill.
Thanks for the input. I'll get the DWS and be gentle in the snow. In Toronto the roads are dry 90% of the time, the snow tires would wear quickly with the long commute. This makes more sense.
The michelin tire looks great, but I'd be pushing my luck driving in snow/slush.
The michelin tire looks great, but I'd be pushing my luck driving in snow/slush.
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Bridgestone Lm60 are awesome
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They come in the size of the stock wheels?
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yes they do. they repalce the lm series
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After pricing these out and then asking the dealer about installing them, the service rep honestly admitted the rims will likely get scarred taking the tires on and off. So it looks like a new set of wheels is needed for winter.
Problem: the options available are only in 38mm offset 19 8.5. Will these rub the fenders or wheel wells? Stock offset is 45 and 55 I think.
Other cheap wheel options? So far I've only been looking at tire rack.
Problem: the options available are only in 38mm offset 19 8.5. Will these rub the fenders or wheel wells? Stock offset is 45 and 55 I think.
Other cheap wheel options? So far I've only been looking at tire rack.
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360 Posts
You might want to check into 18" wheels for winter. I got some MSW 18" wheels for $125 each for my winter tires.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
I'd like to go 18" but I hear some don't fit over the the brakes. Which model did you choose? Also, was there a good way to tell what would fit? It looks like MSW uses the same 45mm offset as stock and tire rack stocks a lot of them 
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
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360 Posts
I used the MSW Type 14 18" wheels. I talked to a salesperson at the Tire Rack and he assured me that the wheels would fit. They do require an adapter ring on the wheel itself as well as a different set of lug nuts.
If you want to see a picture of them on the car, I can try and post one tonight when I get home.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
If you want to see a picture of them on the car, I can try and post one tonight when I get home.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
Was tire rack able to provide all the hardware? I'm curious how he knew what would fit.
Which shop in Cambridge? I'd certainly look into it for replacement summer tires.
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360 Posts
Tire Rack provided everything including TPMS. The dealer didn't report any fitment issues in the three years (fall 08, 09 and 10) that I've had them mounted on the car.
It is pretty tight around the front rotors, but isn't a problem. There is no way 17s would fit on there.
Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS-F
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187 Posts
its called cambridge tire team, they have done other isf s in the past
I always hear about them when they arrive casue they are personal friends and do my car
let me know if u end up doing that so i can give them the heads up and tell them to make sure they dont f anything up lol
I always hear about them when they arrive casue they are personal friends and do my car
let me know if u end up doing that so i can give them the heads up and tell them to make sure they dont f anything up lol
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39 Posts
Bridgestone LM60
Unless I am missing something, the LM60s don't have an XL load tire for the fronts. They do have 225/40R19 and 255/35R19 tires to match the front and back stock sizes, but only the rears are XL load. Doesn't this present a problem?
Vote for Continental DWS
Unless you live in the hot Southwest ... like me ... The Conti ExtremeContact DWS are amazing tires. Plus a long tread life, too.
Even though cars like the IS-F are unlikely to be used in heavy snow conditions, while the "S" is visible on the tread light-to-moderate snow can be conquered!
My son replaced the Bridgestones on his Mazdaspeed3 at 22,000 miles with the DWSs. Without changing his driving style the "S" is still visible after another 20,000 miles of Southeast and Midwest driving.
Unless you live in the hot Southwest ... like me ... The Conti ExtremeContact DWS are amazing tires. Plus a long tread life, too.
Even though cars like the IS-F are unlikely to be used in heavy snow conditions, while the "S" is visible on the tread light-to-moderate snow can be conquered!
My son replaced the Bridgestones on his Mazdaspeed3 at 22,000 miles with the DWSs. Without changing his driving style the "S" is still visible after another 20,000 miles of Southeast and Midwest driving.
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This is an informative thread, so I'll add my question to it rather than start another.
My experience with winter tires on my Mazdaspeed 3 is that they don't grip as well as summer tires. The ISF I'll be getting may come from a warm climate and not even have all-seasons. I don't want to risk damaging the wheels with twice yearly tire changes, so I'm looking at a Tirerack.com package with wheels, totaling about $1300. I can swap them myself in the garage. What do you think?
My experience with winter tires on my Mazdaspeed 3 is that they don't grip as well as summer tires. The ISF I'll be getting may come from a warm climate and not even have all-seasons. I don't want to risk damaging the wheels with twice yearly tire changes, so I'm looking at a Tirerack.com package with wheels, totaling about $1300. I can swap them myself in the garage. What do you think?
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